Celebrations set for Wisconsin’s top high schools

Superintendent Gregory Thornton to visit Rufus King, Reagan, School of Languages starting with King Tuesday at 10 a.m.; all 3 schools in U.S. News’ Wisconsin top 10

To recognize the three MPS schools honored in the latest U.S. News and World Report ‘Best High Schools’ ranking, Milwaukee Public Schools Superintendent Gregory Thornton will visit brief celebrations at the schools over the next two days. The first celebration is set to begin promptly at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Rufus King International School, 1801 W. Olive Street, to the beat of the award-winning Rufus King Drumline.Rufus King ranked first in Wisconsin and 130th in the U.S. in the rankings. MPS’ Ronald Reagan College Preparatory High School ranked second in the state and 197th in the nation. MPS’ Milwaukee School of Languages ranked seventh in the state. The magazine selected the schools in part because of the large number of students at the schools taking college-level courses, whether they are International Baccalaureate courses at King and Reagan or Advanced Placement courses at Milwaukee School of Languages (MSL). “We are giving students the coursework they need to succeed in college and careers. Our educators and school staff are giving students world-class instruction. And our students are working hard and succeeding,” Superintendent Gregory Thornton said. “Our budget proposal for next year includes plans to create even more high school success stories,” Dr. Thornton added. “We’re adding high school grades to the popular MacDowell Montessori school. We’re spending a year planning for the new high school at Golda Meir. And we’re proposing to bring the College Board’s pre-college program into a group of our schools.” The principals of King, Reagan and MSL will be recognized and congratulated at the Tuesday event at Rufus King. Celebrations are set for 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at MSL, 8400 W. Burleigh Street, and 2:15 p.m. Wednesday at Reagan, 4965 S. 20th Street. Both these events are in the schools’ auditoriums and will include hundreds of students.
Media are invited to attend all three celebrations. Please contact Tony Tagliavia, MPS media manager, at 414.475.8675 if you plan to join us.